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Bicycle Accidents


Personal Injury Lawyer Reviewing Cases for injured plaintiffs Nationwide
Nationwide Success

Bicycle trips account for only about one percent of all trips in the U.S., yet bicyclists still face a higher risk of crash injury and deaths than occupants of motor vehicles.

In one year in the United States, over 1,000 bicyclists died and there were almost 467,000 bicycle-related injuries. The majority of bike accidents involve a car. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey, the six most common causes of injury to cyclists are:

  • Hit by a car—30 percent
  • Fall from bike—17 percent
  • Poorly maintained roadways—13 percent
  • Bike rider errors—13 percent
  • Collision with fixed object—7 percent

Of those accidents reported, negligent car drivers failed to see the cyclist in 18 percent of bike accidents that involved a car. In 22 percent of car-related bicycle accidents, a driver or passenger opened a car door into an oncoming cyclist.

Bicycle accidents most commonly occur in intersections, bike lanes, city streets without bike lanes, playgrounds and parks, school and pedestrian crossing zones, and parking lot and driveway entries onto public streets. Motorists may be negligent if they are in violation of a traffic ordinance, such as a failure to yield or fail to look at their blind spots before changing lanes or turning.

A city may be liable for failing to properly maintain roads, and if a dangerous road causes an injury. If injured, pedestrian injuries may be able to file a claim and recover medical costs and other damages.

Following serious bicycle accidents or E-scooter accidents, victims should contact an experienced bicycle accident lawyer to investigate.

Joe Lyon is a highly-rated product liability attorney and experienced bicycle accident lawyer, well-versed in the science and economic impact such has on the victim’s life and family. 

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Adults between 50 to 59 years old have the highest bicycle death rates. Males die 6-times more often and are injured 4-times more often on bicycles than females. Most bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas and at non-intersection locations. Common causes include:

  • Distracted car drivers
  • Excessive speeding
  • Failing to yield
  • Failing to leave space when passing a cyclist
  • Cutting off or turning directly in front of a cyclist
  • Opening a door in cyclist’s path
  • Texting and driving
  • Aggressive driving behavior
  • Defective bicycles

Bicycle Safety & Accident Prevention

Cyclists can protect themselves by taking the following safety measures:

  • Obeying traffic laws
  • Remaining alert—driving defensively
  • Wearing a helmet and other protective gear
  • Avoid alcohol: among bicyclist deaths, over a third involve alcohol consumption either for the motor vehicle driver or bicyclist
  • Rider visibility: wear fluorescent or retro-reflective clothing
  • Bike lights: include front white lights, rear red lights, or other lighting on the bicycle.

Bicycle Accidents & Resulting Injuries

There are on average 15 deaths a year in Ohio from cyclist-related accidents, and up to 45,000 injuries. Cyclists involved in motor vehicle accidents may suffer serious injuries such as:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Facial injuries
  • Dental injuries
  • Neck & Spinal Injury
  • Internal injuries
  • Severe road rash
  • Amputations

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon
A Voice for Those who have suffered 

Why are these cases important?

Serious injuries and accidents often result through no fault of the injured party, yet the injured victim suffers from life altering physical, mental and financial losses. Such economic and human losses can have devastating financial consequences on individuals and families if not properly compensated. Tort law allows those individuals to seek just legal recourse through personal injury lawsuits.

CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY

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Questions about Personal Injury Cases
What is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Any kind of negligence by an individual or company that causes injury or harm can lead to filing a personal injury lawsuit. The amount a plaintiff is entitled to depends on several factors, particularly how egregious the act and how serious the injury.

Personal injury attorneys generally only will take cases on a confidential and contingency fee basis, which means your lawyer will only get paid if he or she is able to reach a settlement or positive verdict. The Lyon Firm will review your case for free and assess what compensation any plaintiff can expect through litigation.

Personal Injury cases can range from minor auto accidents to complex lawsuits filed against large corporations. The Lyon Firm has handled both with equal care. Severe injury requires legal action on occasion, no matter if the injury is the result of a vehicle accident, a dog bite, a boating accident, workplace injury, defective consumer products, medical malpractice, or toxic exposure.

What is the Process?

Pre-Suit Investigation and Negotiations: Personal injury lawsuits are unique and require a thorough investigation before a lawsuit is filed. An initial investigation involves gathering all relevant medical records, accident reports, and interviews with available witnesses.  Preservation letters are drafted to notify the defendant of the case. The duty to preserve electronic evidence is critical in most cases to prevent spoliation.

Filing a Lawsuit in Cincinnati: If pre-suit negotiations are unsuccessful, then a lawsuit must be filed to preserve the statute of limitations.  Filing a lawsuit early in the process is often necessary to begin gathering evidence while the witnesses memories are fresh and documents remain available.

Once suit is filed by your personal injury lawyer, the court will set a case management schedule and the parties will begin exchanging information in the formal process of discovery. Depositions will be taken to preserve testimony for trial and to understand what certain witnesses are likely to say at trial.

Proving Negligence, Causation and Damages: In addition to lay witness testimony and other documentary evidence, personal injury claims rely upon medical and scientific evidence to prove negligence, causation and damages. The chosen expert in a case must have a reliable and sound basis in science and in the facts of the case or his opinion may not be admissible under the rules of evidence.

In the areas of Toxic and Environmental Torts, the admission of expert testimony may be scrutinized harder than in other areas simply because the subject may not have been as widely tested and may rest on novel scientific theories.

Are there any limits to what I can recover?

Each state will vary. Under Ohio law, an injured party may recover damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of enjoyment of life, past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, and punitive damages. The numerical limits are as such:

  1. Non-Catastrophic Injury:   The non-economic award is limited to $250,000 per plaintiff, or three times the economic loss, up to $350,000 per plaintiff. A maximum of $500,000 for each “occurrence.”
  2. Catastrophic Injury: No limits.

The Lyon Firm may be able to file injury claims and recover rightful compensation for clients for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings and long-term disability.

Why should I hire The Lyon Firm?

Joe Lyon is involved in a wide range of practice areas and realms of litigation. Personal Injury lawsuits can be complex and require industry experts to determine the root cause of an accident or injury. 

Our Victories

The Lyon Firm aggressively, professionally, and passionately advocates for injured individuals and families against negligent individuals or companies to obtain just compensation under the law. 

$1,000,000

WRONGFUL DEATH: DISTRACTED DRIVER

(Brown County, Kentucky):   The Lyon Firm was second chair a case involving a driver texting and driving when he crossed the median, killing a father of four. The case was resolved once discovery confirmed the cell phone records proved the texting-related incident. The settlement will pay for the surviving childrens’ education. The driver was likely facing additional criminal charges at the time of the settlement.

$495,000

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

(Cincinnati, Ohio):  The Lyon Firm was lead counsel in a $495,000 settlement. This case involved a motorcycle operator who sustained fractures of the calcaneus, talus, medial cuneiform, tarsal bones, and tarsometatarsal when a car ignored its driving lane and crossed into his right-of-way. Settlement provided repayment of medical bills of $20,000 and funds for future education to re-enter the work force in a less physically-demanding job.